Material handling device



March 20, 1951 F. B. HARVUOT 2,545,696

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Sept. 28, 1945 Fig.3

Fla. 4

FRANK E5. HHRVUOT INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 20, 1951 MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Frank B. Harvuot, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to Bowser, Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application September 28, 1945, Serial No. 619,084

2 Claims. (01.214-26) V This invention relate to a material handling device, more specifically, it relates to a device for loading and unloading heat treating furnaces and similar devices.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a device for handling material.

It is another object of this invention to provide a material handling device which is mobile.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a material handling device having a mobile platform supporting a carriage for moving material from the platform to a furnace or similar device, both the platform and the furnace having tracks which are moved into end-wise butting relation to form a contuinous track.

It is'still another object of thi invention to provide means for axially aligning the tracks of a mobile device with a track of a stationary device.

These and other objects will become apparent from a study of this specification and the drawings which are attached thereto and made a part thereof and in which:

Figure l is an elevation of the material handling device in aligned position with a furnace.

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, showing the aligning finger in the guide slot.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure'l, showing the arrangement of the carriage wheel and track. 7

Figure 4 is an end view of the tray showing the construction of the tray for handling cylindrical objects.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the numeral l is used to designate a furnace of conventional design, having tracks 3 mounted parallel to each other on each side of the heat treating chamber 5. The chamber is enclosed by a casing l which also serves as a support. A U-shaped member 9 i fastened to the casing by welding or other means and has a horizontal slot I l formed therein.

A platform I3 is mounted on casters [5 by means of suitable legs [6 and bracing l8 and has two tracks I! mounted on it which are parallel to each other and extend over one end of the platform. The tracks I! have the same elevation and lateral spacing as the furnace tracks 3. The tracks IT, as shown in Figure 1, are inserted through the furnace door and butt against the ends of the furnace tracks. A guide strip I 9 is fastened to the top of each track I! on the outside and extends the full length of the track.

A guide finger 2| is welded or otherwise fastened to the end of the platform over which the track projects, at the same height as slot I l and engages the slot to align tracks I! with tracks 3. The guide finger is tapered 23 on each side to facilitate its insertion in the slot.

A handle 25 is provided at the opposite end of the platform to beused in moving the platform. An angle 2'! is secured to the same end of the platform as the handle and extends above the level of the track. The horizontal section of the angle is provided with a hole (not shown) for the reception of a pin 47.

A rectangular carriage 29 is made of two pairs of angles 3| and 33 with the horizontal leg on the bottom and the other leg on the outside to provide an upwardly extending flange which extends entirely around the carriage. through the slots 31 in the horizontal legs of the angles}! and rest upon tracks H. The rollers are journaled in bearings 39 which are fastened to angles 3! by screws 4| and nuts 43. A clip 45 is fastened to one end of the carriage and has a hole (not shown) aligned with the hole in the angle 27 so that a pin 41 may be inserted for holding the carriage on the platform.

A rectangular tray 49 of substantially the same size as the carriage is provided and has legs 5| made of angle iron at each corner which nest within the carriage. Angle iron supports or guides 53 extend vertically above the tray at each corner and are positioned to receive the legs 5| so that the trays can be nested without damaging the material being handled. Semi-circular slots 55 shown in Figure 4 are formed in the upwardly extended legs 56 of the tray angles and are used to cradle cylindrical material and may be varied to suit the need. Of course, any suitable tray or material support may be used to support the material on the carriage.

Operation In the process of manufacturing the articles to be treated, they are loaded on the individual trays and the first full tray is loaded on the carriage with the legs 5| resting on the horizontal legs of the carriage angles 3| and 33. The next tray is placed so that its legs 5| are supported by the horizontal legs of the angles 56 of the first tray and in telescopic relation with the guides 53 of the first tray. Other trays are similarly stacked until the load is complete.

The operator then pushes the platform toward the furnace, opens the door and manipulates the platform until the guide finger enters slot I I. He then pushes it into full engagement with the slot and thus automatically lines up the tracks 3 Rollers 35 extend and H. The pin 41 is then withdrawn and the carriage with the trays is then pushed into the furnace. The furnace door is then closed and the heat treatment is started.

The carriage with the trays of treated parts can be withdrawn from the furnace onto the platform in an obvious manner and the trays can thenbe'unloaded. The samezs platform can be used with a plurality of carriages. Thus,

while one load is in the oven, a second carriage v can be placed by hand on the platform and held by the pin 41.

or perform another operation".

Similarly, the carriage may be returnedto the platform after treatment of the load and by it, be hauled to an unloading or storage benchor rack where the carriage can be deposited with its load. If the rackis provided with'tracks, then an aligning arrangement similar to that on the" oven" may be-provid'ed.

It is obvious" thatvariouschanges" may bemade intheform; structure and arrangement of parts without departing from thespirit oftheinvention; Accordingly; applicant does not desire to beli-mited to the specifi'c'embodiment disclosed herein=primarily -fon purposes of'illustration; but insteadg he desires protection falling fairly within the-scope ofthe appended claims.

What I' claim-to be new-and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1.1m a material handling means, the combination" of oasters; a platform mounted on said casters, a-track rigidly--'mounted on said platformand projecting -beyond the end thereof; a carriage mova-ble upon-' andremovablefrom said track} aireceiver-for'sa-id carriage having a track at-= substantially the--same elevation as saidfirst track; and-' means on said -platform and said -re- This carriage andi the platform; can be loaded and used to load another furnace.

ceiver for aligning said tracks, comprising a laterally, outwardly tapered projection on the platform and a guide member on the receiver having a horizontal slot to receive said member, the ends of said slot cooperating with the widest portion of said projection to position said platform accurately, laterally of said receiver in response to endwise motion a of the? platform;

2'; ma material handling'means, the combination of casters, a platform mounted on said casters, a track mounted on said platform, a carriage movable upon and removable from said track, a receiverfor said carriage having a track atsubstarrtiallyytlie same elevation as said first track, and'lme'anston said platform and said receiver for aligning said tracks in response to endwisesanotion' of the platform, comprising a laterallyv tapered projection on the platform and a guide member on the receiver having an openingto receive said member, said opening being disposed" at substantially the same 1 height as -'the guide member and being substantially equal in lateral width to I the widest 'portion =of said' projection.

FRANK Bi- HARVUOT;

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